AFTER almost a month on the run, police received the information they had been waiting for in relation to murder accused Anthony Richard Dent.

They had issued a warrant for Mr Dent’s arrest a week after Anthony O’Grady was found dead on Thomas Armstrong Oval, but after making numerous inquiries it appeared that Mr Dent had gone to ground.

The former Mayfield resident was tracked down to a house in Spencer Street, Cessnock, where Newcastle City detectives combined forces with the state protection support unit and Central Hunter officers.

They waited until Mr Dent walked into the backyard at 3.30pm then swooped.

Minutes later Mr Dent was on his way to Maitland police station where he was formally charged with the murder of Mr O’Grady.

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He faced court on Tuesday, entering no plea or bail application.

A woman walking her dog found Mr O’Grady half naked, hog-tied and lying in the Wickham park early on March 26.

Mr O’Grady, better known as Tony, shared a house in Valencia Street, Mayfield, with serial pest Peter Hore who described Mr O’Grady as his ‘‘spiritual brother’’.

Mr Dent was due to face court on two occasions within the past two weeks on minor drugs charges, but he failed to attend and warrants were issued for his arrest by magistrate Robert Stone.

Mr Dent wrote to the court in March stating that he wanted his matters dealt with in his absence.

‘‘I am a highly principled person and it’s this that has caused me so many of my problems,’’ Mr Dent wrote.

‘‘I am currently on the Newstart allowance from Centrelink, but I’m actively seeking full-time employment which will allow me to settle down and adjust to society once more.’’